Rotary valve for internal-combustion engines.



G L. SCHOFiELU. ROTARY VALVE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICAHON FILED MARv 18, 1916- Patetntul Apr. 1?, 191?.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

5 f S 5 E N y W G. L. SCHOHELD. HbTARY VALVE FOR SNTERNAL COMBUSTION mums,

APPLICAIION HLED MAI H1, 1916.

BESTAVAILABLE GEOR-E L. SCHOFIELD, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

ROTARY VALVE FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

ispeciflcation of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 17, 1917.

Applicationfilc'd March 18, 1916. Serial No. 85,069.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, Gnonon L. Senoriunn,

I acitizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Valves for Internal-Combustion Engines; and I'do declare the followin to be a full, clear, and exact description 0 the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same..ref-

anism for internal combustion engines, and

has for its principal object to effectually lubricate the rotary valvepart.

,erence being had to the accompanying draw- In accomplishing this object of the inven-' tion I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of "which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure I is a central vertical section of a four cylinder internal combustion engine embodying my improvements.

Fig. II is an end view of the same, parts of the chain belt being broken away for better illustration.

Fig. III ,is a transverse vertical section of one of the cylinders and valve seats.

Fig. IV is a plan view of the engine, particularly illustrating the valve mechanism.

Fig. V is a horizoi'ital section through the rotary valve members.

Fig. VI is a detail stationary valve cup. I

Fig. VII is a similar view of the rotary valve.

perspective view of a Fig. VIII is a vertical section on the line VIII-VIII. Fig. I, showing the oil pumps and manifold connection.

Fig. IX is a vertical section 'on the line IXIX, Fig. 'IV. illustrating'the check.

valve between the feed conduit and. oil chamber. I

Referring more in detail to the drawings: 1 designates the crank case, and 2. 3 and 4 respectively the. cylinder, valve and valve drive shaft housings of an internal combustion engine, here shown to be of the vertical type, and wherein the cylinders are paired for a purpose presently described.

Each of the cylinders G, 6, etc., extends continuously through the housing 2, opening atits lower end to the crank case 1 and at its outer end into a valve cap 7 or 7, etc, which caps are preferably formed integrally with the housing 3 and are ofless diameter than the cylinders to form shoulders 9 'at the up per ends of the cylinders.

Located in each of the valve caps is a cup 11 having a flange 12 at its inner end located within the adjacent cylinder and bearing against th shoulder 9, and secured to said shoulder l y bolts 13 so that the cup is held rigidly in place and against rotation.

The cup is also provided with a shoulder 14 foiining a seat against the corner of the valve cap, and with a secondjshoulder 15, whereby the body of the valve cup is inset from the valve cap to form an annular chamber 16 betweenthe cap and cup. The outer end of the valve cup is closed and is spaced from the outer end Of the. cap 7 to form a chamber 18 for containing the end of the rotary valve presently described, and forming an oil chamber from which the valve parts may be lubricated.

The valve cup is provided with an intake port 20, an exhaust port 21 and a spark port 22, which register with relative intake, exhaust and spark ports 24, 25 and 26 in the valve housing; the intakeand exhaust ports 35 in thevalve cup being preferably extended longitudinally of the cup, and the spark port transversely thereof, for the reason that the area. within which the intake and exhaust ports must be confined is small, and in order to admit and exhaust the charges rapidly it is necessary to have the greatest possible opening in the valve cup for a limited time period, which result can be secured better with the arrangement described than with a long transverse port that would require a longer timing communication with the intake and exhaust manifolds.

' The spark port, however, does not need'the extended area but should have a longer time 10( communication between the spark plug and even pressures on the valve that might-tend to misform the valve and eventual y interfere with its proper operation.

- The rotary valve compia'ses an inverted cup-shaped body 28, the rim of which fits snugly within the annular space 16 between' the valve cupandthe valve cap, and has a single port 29 that is adapted for movement successivelyacross the intake,"spark and exhaust ports in the valve cup and cap, so that communication is established at pro r'inter'vals between the intake manifo d, the spark plug and exhaust manifold with the intake, spark and exhaust ports of the valve through the boss 30, is a shaft 31 that is journaled in the base of the valve cap and m the top of the valve housing, and fixed to said shaft is a beveled gear wheel 33 or 33' that} meshes with a beveled gearwheel 34 or 34 on the valve drive shaft 35, which is journaled in bearings 36 within the shaft housing and extends through one end of the housing. The beveled gear wheels 3333' and 34-34 are identical except in the mounting of the driving wheels 34-34 on the shaft 35, the difference being that the gear wheels for each pair of cylinders'face oppositely, so that the gear wheels 3333,

i to

and the valves operatively connected therewith, are turned in opposite directions.

With this arrangement, the timing of the functions of the valves may be accomplished as readily as were the valves driven in the same direction, but it is possible to concentrate and consolidate the intake manifolds, as the intake ports of the paired cylinders are located closely adjacent each other (Fig. V) making it possible to run the main intake manifold 38 close to the point of intake to the cylinders, and there provide the branches 39-39 to the respective intake ports. The exhaust orts may empty into the exhaust manifol 40 through the pipes 41-41' in the usual manner.

In order to effectually lubricate the valves, I provide each rotary valve with a port 43 adjacent the spacing boss 30 through which oil 'from the chamber 18 may flow into contact with the top of the stationary valve cup 11, and provide the top of the valve cup with a groove 44 that extends tothe edged the on and communicates with a groove 45 in t e outer surface of the cup that is preferably spiraled forwtrdly' relative to the direction of travel of;* the valve, so that oil ppssing through the port 43 into ,oil is continuously circuln the groov 44 is forced along the groove and down the same to the base of the on in order to efiectually lubricate the entire inner surface of valve that contacts the outer surface of t e 'valve cup.

I also rovide for lubricating the valve at its outsi e, or at its oint of contact with the valve cap, by rovi ing the valve with a reversely exten mg circumferential groove 47.

It is apparent that yvith the forwardly directed oove in the'stationary valve cup, forwarg movementof the valve will force oil alon the wardl irec Y groove in the outer face of the oi cup, forward movement of the valve will force oil rearwardly through its groove, thereby effecting lubrication of both the In order to insure supply of lubricant within the cap chamber, I prow'de each chamber with an intake conduit 49 and an outlet conduit 50, the outlet conduit comprising a hollow bolt that is extended through the bottom of the valve shaft housing and the top of the valve housing, and communicates with the chamber 18.

\ The intake conduit opens outwardly "through a port 48 near the head of the bolt into an annular ,channel 49' and leading from said chamber ,is a bore 52 that communicates with .a tube 52 that, in turn, communicates with a manifold 53, which, in turn, communicates with a pump chamber 54 in'the valve shaft housing through a pipe 55. The second conduit 50,havingcommunication with the oil chamber in the valve cap, also comprises a hollow bolt, one end of which opens to the oil chamber and the other to the interior of the valve drive shaft housing. The bolt-shaped conduits move, and with the rearalso serve to ri 'dly connect the valve and valve drive sha housings and obviate the necesity for extra bolts. l

The drive shaft 35 carries an eccentric 57 that operates a pump piston 58 in the chamber 54, and w ich lifts above the intake port 59 through which oil may be deliv cred from the 'valve drive shaft housing,

which also serves as an oil reservoir, to the pump chamber, so that when the engine is in operation the pump will take oilfrom the oil reservoir, force the same th aha oil manifold 53 into the several conduits 49, and thence into the chambers 18 of the valve caps, where the oil may pass to the rotary valve as heretofore described. The circulation through the valve caps is'continued through the return conduits 50 tothe oil .reservoir in the valve drive shaft housing, from which the oil is originallyagumlmd, so that from the valve shaft housing, through the valve cap chumbers, and back to the housing, thereby insuring the constant lubrication of all of the greater capacity thaiithelretifrnr nr outlet conduit 50 to insure constant pressure in the oil chamber in the valveicap By opening the 'conduit 49 to near the bottom of the pump chamber, when the pump piston. is raised to take in oil from the oil reservoir the back check valve is closed and a vacuum created in the pump chamber that tends-to draw in oil from the reservoir when the inlet port 58' is uncovered by the piston.

To prewnt any backward How of the oil to the pump chamber, I provide the conduit 55, which leads from the pump to the manifold 53, with a ball check 60 which is held against a seat 61 by a 'coil spring 62, and to prevent. backflow from the valve chamber I provide theintake conduits 52, which lead.

from the manifold 53 to the various valve chambers, with ballchecks 63 (Fig.v IX) which are held against seats 64 by coil springs 65.

By so arranging the check valves, oil

pumped into the manifold '53 will be held against return to the pump and will be forced through the conduit to the valve chambers; checks 53 -.preventing any back flow o1. nequal pressure within the several valve pliambers 18.

The valve drive shaft 35 may be operated in any suitable manner, but is preferably driven from a chain belt 66 that runs through a casing'G'? and over a sprocket wheel 68 on the end of the valve shaft and over a sprocket wheel 69' on the end of the crank shaft 7 O, the arrangement of the drive being such that the valve drive shaft makes one revolution for two revolutions of the crank shaft.

- within the crank case 1, which preferably The crank shaft is rotatably mounted contains oil, so that the pistons7l of the several engine cylinders are splashed when they are driven by the crank shaft, through the piston rods 72.

Assuming the parts to be constructed and assembled as described, when, the engine is in operation, the crank shaft is rotated and rotates the valve drive shaft. The valve drive shaft operates the gear Wheels 3434', etc., so that the paired gear wheels operate in opposite directions to drive the rotary valves accordingly. As the rotary Valves move about the cups the single port in each rotary valve successively uncovers the in take, spark and exhaust portsin. the station-ary valve cup, so that communication is estabiished with the intake supply, With the spark plug, and with the exhaust conduit. When the spark is admitted to the cylinder, the charge is exploded and the explosion produces an impact in all directions, which passing through the several ports in the stationary valve cup strikes the rotary ilve member;

, pacity than the inlet, and means .ual outlet conduit for each valve housing If the impact occurred at the same and a single point on the valve member at each revolution, the valve would be subject to unequal pressures, but by providing the balancing ports the impact is the same at the three balanced positions, so that strain on the rotary valve member is balanced.

During the operation of the engine, the valve .drive shaft revolves constantly and operates the lubricant pump, which forces oil through the intake conduits to the lubricant chamber in each valve cap: This lubricant passes through the chamber to the grooves in the valve and valve cup, and rotary movement of the valve forces the lubricant along the grooves to effect com} plete lubricatioh of the contacting parts;- the pump'meanwhile continuing circulation through the cap chambers to insure a constant supply of oil.

lrVith thearrangcment described, all of the valve caps and the cylinders may be waterthe intakes for the paired cylinders are'go closely adjacent each other; this close arran'gemen t being-effected Without necessitating any greater spacing of the exhaust conduits. 7

By reversing the arrangement of the {paired valve members, the strain and tension of the valves is balanced, with the result that a steadier, more stable, and less racking effect isproduced upon the operation of the engine.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is i 1. In an engine, a rotary valve-an inclosnre for the valve, a valve operating shaft, an inclosure for said shaft also servin as a lubricant container, "separate con nits connecting the valve inclosure with the shaft ousing, one comprising an intake and the other an outlet, the outlet being -'of less cafor forcing oil from the shaft housing. to the valve inclosure, whereby pressure of the oil is maintained within the inclosure because of'the lesser capacity of the outlet conduit.

2. In an engine, a plurality of individual valve housings, a valve rotatably mounted in each housing; lubricant container, an intake conduit-leading to each vale housing, a manifold in communication w th the oil container and having connection with each of the said intake conduits, a pump for drawing-oil from the container and forcing the same into the manifold, and an individ' 125 opening to the oil container whereby oil is circulated through the container and all ofsaid valve housings. 4 In an engine, a plurality of individual Valve housings, a valve rotatably mounted 30 maintained under in each housing, a, lubricant containeiyian intake conduit leading to egchyalve housing, a manifold in communication withthe oil container and having{ conn 'tion with each of the said intakehonduitgf pump for drawing oil from the containeiiignd forcing the same into themaniiold, and anindividnah outlet conduit fort-each valve housing opening to the oil containerwhereby:oilgis circulated through the 'contanierggnd all-pf said valve housings," all or the outlet icon' duit-s being of'lesser capacity tlmn-theore spective intake con duits', wvherebyf'oilxisi pressure n the several,

valve housings. I y

4. In an engine, a plurality of cylinders valve for each cylinder, an inclosure for each to the manifold.

5,};111 an engine, a plurality of cylinders, a, valve for each cylinder, an inclosure for each valve, an oil reservoir, a'manifold in communication with said reservoir, feeding BEST AVAKLABLE COP COnQUitS leading from the manifold to the respective :mclosures, conduits leading from the respective inclosurstothe-reservoir, a

piunp for forcing oil vfrom the r'wetvooir to the manifold, and a back check valve ineech i e c ond t, fit- 111 an engine, aplurality of cylinders, a

valve cap foi gfeachrcylinder, fa rotary .vaive in each cap, it" valve nhmft housing, a shaft for each valveprojeded into said housing, a single actuating shaftin the housing, bevel gear wheels on the several valve shafts,

a bevelgear wheelonthe' single shait meshing with each of said sevoratgcarvvheels, a,

manifold: in communication with the valve sheft housing, a conduit leading from the manifold to-each of the-valve caps, a'pump for forcing oil fromthe honsingto the manifold; and a conduit l'eadinglfrom eachvallve cap to the housing.-

7 In an eng ne, a. cylinder 9. valvefor the cylinder, a housin for the valve, on 'oil reservoir, and a' holow bolt securin the-oil reservoir to the valve housingen as a conduit between the valve housing and oil reservoir. v

n testimony whereof I aflix mv signature.

I GEORGE L. SCHOF ELD 

